This September, members of ESTL and ESR Space attended the European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium (ESMATS) 2025 in Lausanne, Switzerland. ESMATS is the main European conference for the space mechanisms community, and attracted a record participation of around 400 delegates.
The conference was a particular success for us this year. Across the team, we delivered four technical presentations and co-authored a further three papers, all of which were well received by attendees.
Best Presentation Award 2025 – Recognising Innovation in Solid Lubricants
We are especially proud to share that Michael Buttery from ESTL was awarded the Best Presentation Award 2025 for his paper, “Development of Next Generation Solid Lubricants.”
This presentation highlighted the outcome of a six-year ESTL research and development programme into “moisture-resilient” molybdenum-based (MoS₂) solid lubricants. The resulting next-generation lubricants have demonstrated very significant lifetime performance improvements over legacy products, as assessed in tribometer tests and in multiple tests of ball bearings operating both in air and in vacuum.
This represents a major step forward for the space industry. Reducing the cost and complexity of ground testing space mechanisms that employ solid lubricants by providing improved resilience in air and also greater lifetime under operational conditions in the vacuum of space.
The award not only recognises Michael’s excellent delivery but also reflects the scientific and technical impact of this development for spacecraft mechanisms worldwide. Congratulations once again to Michael on this fantastic achievement.
Training Courses Ahead of the Conference
Before the conference began, ESTL delivered two highly successful training courses:
- The CABARET Ball Bearing Analysis Software Training Course, delivered virtually by Achilleas Vortselas, which attracted 22 participants and received excellent feedback.
- The Space Tribology Course, based largely on our Space Tribology Handbook and other guideline documents which was delivered in person in Lausanne by Michael Buttery and Simon Lewis. This welcomed 25 participants.
We were delighted with the level of engagement across both courses and hope that all participants found them valuable and insightful.
Looking Ahead
Overall, ESMATS 2025 was a hugely successful event for ESTL and ESR Space. From award-winning presentations to record conference participation and client engagement, it has been a milestone moment for our teams.
We would like to thank the conference organisers, contributors, and all those who attended for making it such an impactful and rewarding few days.
All of our papers and presentations from ESMATS 2025 are now available in full. If you are interested in learning more about any of our presentations or any of our other contributions, you can explore the full papers here.